driveshaft clearance issue blues.

so last night i c notched my 64 dodge dart unibody, all went well with that, but at about 1 in off the ground, im plagued with terrible drive shaft clearance. ive cut the tunnel out from just under package tray, too the back of the front seat, and it still needs more.. im trying to not have to lift the tunnel so much that i have to redo my seats, and kinda scared of splitting that much of the floor on a unibody.. anybody have any ideas? any thoughts on some sort of 2 piece carrier style drive shaft,

 

nothing?

 

There is no way around it,,with radical modifications in suspension it's like the old domino effect,one thing necessitates another,,your going to have to cut it out. HRP

 

You're going to drive it with the rockers dragging?

 

Some extra bracing to the body while making these alterations would not be a bad idea. Things tend to move around especially on a unitized chassis.

 

cool idea there, using your tools as scrap metal for temporary bracing

 

no, but to get it to lay rocker even its going to need radical cutting.

i agree, the area i cut out and installed the notches in i also i braced into the surrounding floor and inner wheel well.

 

its broken, not on warranty, and closest beefy thing to me.

 

i guess we will find out. the stock driveshaft has got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel as it is, maybe il look for a small truck 2 piece shaft to adapt, those are smaller then the one pieces by far from what ive seen.

 

if you go with a two piece shaft you can drop down in tube size because of them being so much shorter. so that will gain you a little extra room too. give sacramento driveline a call, the guys their will point you in the right direction.

 

awesome thanks!

 

There is a drive shaft in that picture too?

 

2 options come to mind.

1. go ahead and build the tunnel from the package tray up to the back of the front seat make sure you add an inch or two in height, tack it in real good, that will help keep the body straight, remove front seat and continue cutting and rebuild as needed., you should be able to cut the seat frame a few inches before you get into the springs of the seat. be sure to reinforce the seat frame with a c-notch. If you have to cut into the spring you could shorten them or get bucket seats.

2. get a two piece drive shaft with a carrier bearing in it cut it down to fit, find u-joints the fit, have it balanced, and build a cross member under the car to hold the carrier bearing ( it needs to be very strong and perfectly located). this will allow the front half of the shaft to remain flat or under the stock hump and seat and the back half will move up into the area you already cut out.


Suggestion, loose the torch and use a saw-zal or cut off wheels when cutting your tunnel. Also take everything out of the car before you catch it on fire and know where your fuel lines are too.

Godspeed
MrC.

 

One more suggestion......go get a tetanus shot or booster before you climb in.

 

I want pictures of the whole car laid out!

 

take the seat out get the tunnel right and then figure the seat out!

 

yep its that driveshaft looking tube in the opening.

, yea imma mock up an explorer driveshaft I found and see if it will clear the current opening, and if not, onto a big ol' x member and carrier set up.

full factory rubber floor in front still, with full interior. have all of rear interior aswell its just pulled while I work this out.

will do!

well ive decided to no cut any farther up and go carrier bearing set up if my explorer rear drive shaft doesn't work out.